Wheel drive



. 1,519,036 E. MCMANEMIN WHEEL DRIVE Filed April 28. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet1 z! i. I 32 EEE-Ei 33 i ii 1 5mm 15 9 5 12 W anemia Dec. 9, 1924.1,519,036

E. MCMANEMIN v WHEEL DRIVE Filed April 28, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WHEEL DRIVE.

Application filed April 28, 1924. Serial No. 709,577.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD MCMANEMIN, a citizen of the United States,residin at Tioga, 'in the parish of Rapides and tate of Louisiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Wheel Drives; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to improvements in wheel drives forvehicles and an object of the invention is to secure greater tractionand power without increasing the fuel consumption in the motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact powerful drivesuitable for tractors and other vehicles operating in soft ground.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be morefully described hereinafter, and will be more. particularly pointed outin the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or correspondingparts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is an end elevation showing the improved drive construction inaccordance with the presentv invention.

Figure 2 is a similar vlew taken from the.

opposite end of the drive and showing the shafts in section, I

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 3-3 in Fire 1.

Figure 4 is a longitudina horizontal section taken on the line 44 inFigure 3.

Figure 5 is a central cross section taken on the line 5-5 in Figure 3,and

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6-6 also in Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 7 indicates the load shaftand 8 the power shaft. The load shaft is directly below and spaced fromthe power shaft and carries the weight of the vehicle; while the powershaft 8 is coupled to the motor by which it is rotated. Both shaftsproject into a cylindrical casing 9. The outer end of the casing 9 isclosed by a head 10 having a threaded flange to engage with the threads,indicated at 11 on the outer side of the casing 10. The inner end of thecasing 9 is also provided with screw threads 12 to receive the threadedflange of the ring 13 which is provided with a circular openin andstepped shoulders 14 and 15, with WlllCh cooperate the similar shoulders16 and 17 of the circular cover plate 18.

This cover plate fits within the circular opening of the ring 13,-and isheld in place by the latch ring 19 which overlaps the flange or shoulder16 of the circular plate 18, and is removably secured to the ring 13. asby the bolts 20. The closure plate 18 is provided with openings to fitabout the shafts 7 and 8 and when the latch ring 19 is withdrawn, saidplate 18 may be slid along the shafts to give access to the interior ofthe casing 9.

The power shaft 8 is supported from the load shaft 7 and to this end twoheart shaped plates 21 and'22 are fitted within the casing, the plate 21being against'the outer head 10. While the plate 22 is fitted againstthe circular plate 18. The plates at their lower portions are providedwith openings to snugly fit about the load shaft 7, the lates beingsupported by the load shafts and these heart shaped plates 21 and 22 donot come in contact with the bottom of the casing 9. At the upper endsthe heart shaped plates are provided with bearings 23 and 24 to receivethe power shaft 8 which rotatestherein. The power shaft is thussupported in the heart shaped plates 21 and 22, and the circular closureplate 18 is shown as being fitted rather loosely all around in order toit the weight of thepower shaft to evolve upon the load shaft 7. Thestepped shoulders of the closure plate 18 permit of this limitedmovement and at the same time exclude all foreign matter from theworking parts on the interior of the casing 9.

The heart shaped plates 21 and 22 are connected together as by the rodsor bolts 25 threaded as shown in Figure 4, in the threaded openings inthe heart sha ed plate 21 and having nuts 26 at their ot or ends andlarger than the occupying sockets 27 in the opposite hea t shaped plate22, this latter plate being made of greater width to take the socketsand hold the nuts fiush therein. Spacing sleeves 28 surround the rodsand serve to hold the plates 21 and 22 at a predetermined distanceapart.

The power shaft 8 is provided with a pinion 29 within the centralportion of the casing having teeth adapted to engage in the interiornotches 30 on the central part of the casing 9 by which rotary movementis communicated from the power shaft to the casing. The ower shaft 8 isalso provided with a collar 31 inwardly of, and abutting against theheart shaped plate 22 to revent withdrawal of the power shaft. 'l lieload shaft 7 extends within a sleeve 32 of larger internal diameter thanthe load shaft as shown in Figure 5 and this interior sleeve 32 is inturn fitted within an external sleeve 33 of greater internal diameterthan the exterior diameter of the internal sleeve 32. Both of thesesleeves extends substantially the full distance between the plates 21and 22 as shown in Figure 3 and they distribute the weight over widesurfaces, while also protecting the notched portion 30 in theintermediate part of the casing 9. By having the sleeves lar er than oneanother iameter of the load shaft, the load is entirely free and adjustsitself automatically.

In the use of the device, the casing 9 may be made of thesame diameteras the usual wheel and a tire may be put upon it or not as desired; orthis casing 9 may be made of the same diameter as the hub of an ordinarywheel and spokes, and rim and other wheel parts added. The other partsof the device will'of course vary in size according to the. size of thecasing 9. In either event the principle .of the device will be the same,but where the casing itself is used as the entire wheel, a large surfacearea will be exposed to the ground and a high traction aflorded. Theload 7 will be entirely supported 11 n the lower portion of the casingand t e power shaft 8 will be free so that there will be no binding ofthe teeth of the pinion 29 in the notches of the casing 9. Aconsiderable reduction in gearing is had and with the load supported asindicated great power will be secured. By virtue of the construction ofthe various parts the interior of the casing is readily accessible andparts may be removed and re laced without great difficulty and delay.

t will be understood, of course, that the wheel 29, instead of havingteeth may be a friction wheel. Also if a rope is wound about the drum 9and this rope is pulled motion may be communicated to the shaft 8 andthe wheels in this case if on the shaft specifically describedembodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof,such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is 2-- 1. A wheel drive for vehicles comprising load andpower shafts, a casing enveloping the end portions of the shafts, meanswhereby said power shaft may have driving connection with the casinplates for supporting the power shaft %rom the load shaft,

and elongated sleeves extending about the load shaft and resting uponthe lower portion of the casin 2. A wheel drlve for vehicles comprisinga power and a load shaft extending in spaced relation with the loadshaft lowermost, a casin extending about the end portions of sai shaftsand having notches therein, a gear wheel on said power shaft meshingwith the notches to drive the cas ing, sleeves fitted about the loadshaft and resting upon the lower portion of the easing, means to sup ortthe power shaft and gear wheel from t e load shaft, and means forenclosing the ends of the casing.

3. A wheel drive for vehicles comprising a power shaft, a load shaftspaced below the power shaft, a pinion fixed to the power shaft, acasing enveloping end portions of said shafts and having notches fordriving engagement with said pinion, a pair of heart shaped platescarried by the load shaft within the casing and having bearings for saidpower shaft, elongated sleeves extending about the load shaft betweensaid plates and resting upon the lower side of the casing. and coversfor enclosing the ends of said casing.

4. A wheel drive for vehicles comprising power and load shafts, a casingextending about the end portions of said shafts, a pinion on the powershaft for driving engagement with said casing, a pair of heart shapedplates in said casing supported by said load shaft and having hearingsto receive the power shaft, connecting rods for said heart shapedplates, means associated with the rods to keep the plates spaced apart,and elongated concentric sleeves extending loosely within one anotherand loosely about said load shaft and resting upon the bottom portion ofthe casing, and means to enclose the ends of said casing.

5. A wheel drive for vehicles comprising a power shaft and a load shaft,a casing partially enveloping said shafts, an inner sleeve looselyfitted to said load shaft, an

outer sleeve loosely fitted about the inner sleeve and resting upon thebottom of said casing, a pair of plates for confining the ends of saidsleeves, saidplates being carried by the load shaft and supporting forrotary movement the power shaft, a gear element carried by said powershaft and having driving connection with said casing, means for holdingsaid plates apart, an outer end head removably connected to said casing,a ring having a circular opening with stepped shoulders fitted on theinner end of the casing, a closure plate also having stepped shouldersloosely fitting the stepped shoulders of the ring, and a latch ringremovably secured to the first named ring and overlapping the edge ofsaid plate.

EDWARD MoMANEMIN.

